★ Pudovkin's 5 Principles of Editing ★

             ★ Pudovkin's 5 Principles of Editing ★


In this post we will explore the principles of editing.
We will go through and explain the many different aspects and techniques within editing.


★ Contrast - 


Contrast is a technique to help empathise the emotion or action in a scene. The footage flicks back and forth between two contrasting scenes, for example shots of a wealthy environment in between shots of poverty. This makes the difference more apparent.


► Video example of Contrast

In this example you can clearly see the contrast between the two opposing scenes, this example is effective as it really draws the onlookers attention to the contrast between the varying scenes of the bone and the space station. The contrast here is between the bone (one of man's first ever primitive tools) and the space station (the pinnacle of technology today).


★ Symbolism -

Symbolism is a technique used in many films. It is a physical representation of an object or action. Everything in the Mise-en-scene could be taken for symbolism. For example a rose placed in the frame could be interpreted as love or romance.

► Video example of Symbolism

In this example you can clearly see the use of effective symbolism, the symbolism is successful as you can clearly see the symbol, which is the match, representing the heat of the sun throughout the desert. This works well as the viewer, without even being aware, creates an affiliation between the heat of the burning match and the heat of the burning sun within the desert expanse.

★ Parallelism -    

Parallelism connects two unrelated scenes by switching between them and focusing on similar features, for example footage of banana farmers in a foreign country then flicking to footage of a city walker consuming a banana. It forms an association in the onlookers thoughts.

► Video example of Parallelism

In these examples the parallelism is successful, it allows the viewer to create a relation in the two scenes, therefore insisting the transition between the two shots is a smooth one. In the first example this means the connection between the footage of the clock mechanics and modern day Paris, suggesting that the way the city runs is something similar to clockwork. In the second, although the scenes are of the complete opposite nature, there are still similarities which allow the parallelism to work as intended. The screaming and the screeching of the train, along with the characters mouths in an almost identical position force a relation within the shots throughout the on lookers thoughts.


★ Simultaneity 

This is a very common technique used in many many films to this day. It is the process of two events that simultaneously cut between each other to build suspense. For example cutting between the murder victim and the murderer. This makes the scene more dramatic and interesting for the viewer.

► Video example of Simultaneity

In this example you can see the cutting between the shots of the murderer within his house, to the shots of the S.W.A.T Team outside, it cuts back and forth to build up suspense. This example is effective as the viewer is engaged in the drama and suspense created by the Simultaneity in this scene. The viewer is under the belief that the killer is finally going to be caught, however the S.W.A.T Team are at the wrong house!

★ Leit Motif -

This technique involves associating a shot with an outcome, then replaying and repeating the shot every time the outcome will occur. For example in the film Jaws, footage of the victims from a low angle within the water is played every time the shark attacks, the viewer expects the attack to happen every time they see the shots. Therefore creating suspense .


► Video example of Leit Motif

As previously explained, the Leit Motif within the film jaws is incredibly effective and successful. Every time a shot of the 'victim' from a camera looks up at them from underneath the water, the viewer can expect the shark to attack. The viewers mind quickly associates this shot with a shark attack, therefore creating immense suspense every time the shot is played.

★ History of Editing ★

               ★ History of Editing ★

★ Where it all began -

It all started when the first motion cameras where invented in the 1890s The Lumiere Brothers kicked it all off in 1895. They invented cinematographe, it was a three way machine that recorded, captured and projected a motion picture. The work they produced only consisted of one long roll of film, a continuous shot.

The first film studios were built in 1897

In 1901 Edwin S. Porter came along and showed us that it didn't have to be long clip. He started to experiment by sticking different parts of film together.

The films became several minutes long consisting of several shots.

The first successful permanent theater showing only films was "The Nickelodeon" in Pittsburgh in 1905

★ Primitive Editing -

You can see primitive instances of editing in films like Rescued by Rover (Great Britain, 1904) and The Great TrainRobbery (1903).

To begin with, the cuts were made in the camera itself. Examples of this can be seen in Rescued By Rover. These cuts where used to change scenes and make the audience aware that time has moved on. This was effective as you can as you can clearly understand that between the cuts, a period of time has passed by. It was basic and simple, but it was successful at achieving what was intended. To preform the cut the cameraman would stop cranking and then continue to film at the next scene. This could also allow for some special effects early on. For example, Georges Méliès stops the camera after detonating a magic puff of smoke in front of his actor, then begins the camera again after the actor has left the stage, making it seem as if the actor has magically vanished.

1908 – D.W Grithins Film ‘For Love of Gold’ featured the first ever continuity cut between scenes.

He also discovered that you can reflect emotion through different angles and the pace of editing, it wasn't all down to the editors.

In 1910 actors started getting credit

The birth of a nation, 1915 is the first film that used a variety of camera techniques. Including long panoramic shots, iris effect, still shots, cross cutting and planning shots.

★ Sound in Editing –

Sound in Film plays an important part. It helps set emotions and understanding of the scene.

The first sound recording cameras had to be used in a sound proof room. They also where very still as the actor had speak into a static mic.

The first sound on film was screened in 1923

It took a while before people realised that they could move the microphone round on the end of a stick (a boom stick)

The Jazz Singer - (1927) Although it was not the first Vita phone (sound-on-disk) feature, it was the first feature-length Hollywood "talkie" film in which spoken dialogue was used as part of it.

Today films include a vast range of sound effects and sound tracks (non diegetic sound) and voice recorded with a whole range of microphones.

★ Analogue Editing (click here for an example) –

Before digital editing, it was Analogue editing. It involved cutting down the film negatives and placing them in order. In then went through a machine called the Moviola or the K.E.M.

A Moviola is a device that allows a film editor to view film while editing. It was the first machine for motion picture editing when it was invented by Iwan Serrurier in 1924.

Moviola the company is still in existence and is located in Hollywood where part of the facility is located on one of the original Moviola factory floors.





★ Digital Editing (click here for an example) –

Since the invention of Computers, digital editing and filming has taken over.

Editing with a computer is much faster and more efficient. Digital video clips are imported into the software, the clips are then manipulated, cut and set into an order. Effects are then added.

The first computers and editing software was only capable of basic sound and video editing. Computers and software of the modern day are capable of amazing effects and tasks, such as Chroma keying, motion tracking, CGI, 100’s of footage enhancing effects and plenty of different visual add-ons.

The computers that were used to make film first came onto the scene in the 1960’s when the first animated film (Hummingbird) was released. This continued into the 1980’s when the first heavy CGI movies where released.


★ Russian Cinema -

Cinema first began during the Russian Empire, widely developed in the Soviet Union.

The first films to make an appearance in the Russian Empire where brought in by the Lumiere Brothers. They exhibited their films in Moscow and St. Petersburg in May 1896. In that same month
Lumiere cameraman, Camille Cerf made the first film in Russia. He recorded the coronation of Nicholas II at the Kremlin





SlideShare powerpoint on the history of editing - By me


★ In conclusion -

Film editing has come a long way. From cutting and sticking pieces of negatives together and stop/starting the camera to create effects, to high resolution CGI and green screen effects made on a computer.

Editing has always played a massive part in the production of a film. A film could not be made without it. It has branched off into groups including sound, visual, animated and storyline organisation.

- By Harvey Ross

★ Editing Transitions ★

                               ★ Editing Transitions ★

Hello, we are currently working on the transitions of editing. Transitions are very important within film, unless you took on the task of making and filming a movie in one whole take, you can't do without cuts/transitions.

What is a transition?  The dictionary definition of a film transition is as follows -

A film transition is a technique used in the post-production process of film editing and video editing by which scenes or shots are combined. Most commonly this is through a normal cut to the next scene.

There are many different transitions, below is a list of them and there main purposes,

★ The Standard Cut -

The cut is a plain and straight forward cut, no sfx. It is an instant change from one shot to another. It is used to move onto the next shot without drawing any attention to itself.

Example - Click Here (Cut Transition)

In the first minute of this film extract you can see several examples of a standard cut, these types of cut of used to simple change shot, from one action to the other etc. In the video the cuts are used to change shots without drawing any attention to the cut its self, this is successful as the viewers watch the scene without thinking about the change of shot.  

★ The Jump Cut -

The jump cut jumps from one action to the next. It is used to instantly change scene, quickly. It purposely draws attention to the cut to create a rushed empathises, typically used in drama or action scenes.

Example - Click Here (Jump Cut)

In this example you can see this type of cut, the cuts in this example are effective as they create a sense of heightened excitement and action, the onlooker is made aware of the intended drama.


 ★ Dissolve -

During a dissolve transition the picture slowly breaks up to reveal the next shot. This is used for many different effects. It can be used to empathise the fact that time has passed by, the change in location or to show that time has sped up or slowed down.


Example - Click Here (Dissolve)


★ Fade -

During a fade transition, the opacity of the clip slowly decreases to reveal the next clip. This can be fast or slow. It is used to again either empathise the fact time has passed by, the change in location or to create an emotion of some sort (usually a depressed atmosphere) after a sad scene.


Example - Click Here (Fade)


★ Wipe -

The following shot 'pushes' the previous off screen, left, right, up or down motion. Again used to draw attention to the fact the time or place has changed.

Example - Click Here (Wipe Transition)



In conclusion, transitions are a useful part of a film. How they are used also is another important matter. They can smoothly continue a films story line without the onlooker being aware or they can draw attention at the right moments to create a sense of passed time or changing of place.